Cautery transformer



w. A. ARNESEN 2,418,687

CAUTERY TRANSFORMER Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 8, 1947.

ATT HNEY April 1947- w. A. ARNESEN 2,418,687

QAUTERY TRANSFORMER Filed Feb. 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 INVENTOR.

Jiy: 5 if 1 W 40%;? Z16 71am 31 Wa 43 I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to transformer constructions and more particularly to transformers adapted for energizing cautery instruments and lights customarily used in connection therewith.

An object of the present invention is to provide a transformer construction of simplified character in which all parts can be removed from a casing as a unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transformer construction utilizing a casing open at one side together with a closure member or plate to which all operating parts of the transformer are secured.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for limiting lateral movement of the transformer parts or elements within the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transformer construction in which the component parts of the transformer are arranged in depending relation from a cover plate to be positioned in a casing with the controls on the opposite side of the cover plate.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a transformer construction in which cushioning means are provided for absorbing shock which might be communicated to or from the mass of the transformer elements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide attaching members associated with the transformer element supports, which attaching members can be secured to the casing for retaining the transformer therein and for preventing lateral movement of the transformer elements within the casing.

In carrying out the foregoing and other objects of the invention a transformer in accordance therewith is made up of a casing constructed of wood or some suitable insulating material such as a phenol condensation product. One side of this casing is open and is adapted to be closed by a cover plate which preferably is made of suitable electrical insulating material such as a phenol condensation product. Extending from one side of this plate are a number of studs preferably having their ends molded into the plate, such studs serving to support the frame and core of the transformer elements. Sleeves are interposed between the frame and core and the cover plate for properly spacing these elements relative thereto. The transformer itself is made up with a split primary and with two secondaries, each of which serves its own individual purpose for energizing instruments commonly used in the surgical field. Suitable means are provided in association with each transformer for limiting the power supplied, thereby to serve their individual purposes. Control devices such as switch controls, terminal posts and secondary output controls are mounted on the opposite side of the cover plate to be readily available for manipulation by the operator or user of the transformer. The casing has recesses provided in the boundary walls of the open side thereof which serve as shoulders on which the cover plate may be mounted so that the top surface of th plate is substantially flush with the top edges of the casing, In order that the cover plate and transformer assembly may be retained in assembly with the casing, use is made of angle members secured to the studs before mentioned in rigid re lation and provided with threaded Openings in the depending legs thereof for engagement by screws passing through end walls of th casing.

These retaining members in addition to theirfunction of holding the cover plate and transformer in assembly with the casing, also serve to prevent any appreciable lateral movement of the transformer elements within the casing thereby removing strain from the cover plate. In addition, in instances where the transformer elements are of unusually heavy construction, the studs before mentioned can pass through the bottom of the casing with shock absorbing members such as springs arranged to surround the studs between the frame and core of the transformer and the bottom of the casing. Thus shock which might be communicated either to or from the transformer and the top plate can be substantially eliminated.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of an improvement thereof read in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2, such line for the major part being along the plane of the bottom surface of the cover plate;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3 and showing the cover plate in assembly therewith; M

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating the manner in which cushioning devices can be used in this invention; and

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of the transformer and its associated parts.

Referring now to the drawings, l indicates generally the casing of a transformer, such casing being of rectangular shape and of suitable depth, having end walls il, side walls l2 and a bottom 14. The top of the casing is open as shown and the side and end walls II and [2 are recessed at their upper edges to provide a continuous shoulder r ledge l5 interiorly of the casing. As before mentioned, the casing can be made of wood or can be made of any suitable electrical insulating material if desired, such as a phenol condensation product, or even may be made of metal or any other suitable material. For convenience Wood has been illustrated in the present showing.

In connection with this casing use is made of a cover plate l6 preferably made of some good electrical insulating material such as a phenol condensation product either molded or laminated. If molded, this cover plate has embedded therein the ends l'! of a plurality of threaded studs [8, such studs in the forms shown being four in number. Studs l8 pass through openings in one arm of each of a plurality of angle members 20, the other arms of which are provided with internally threaded apertures for a purpose to be described later. The angle members are of the same number as the studs l3 and are held firmly in place by means of sleeves 2i surrounding the studs and spacing the transformer frame and core 22 from the bottom surface of the cover plate 15. This frame and core of laminated metallic construction is locked in place by nuts 25 threaded onto the ends of the studs 18. When these nuts are tightened it will be evident that in addition to firmly holding the frame and core in place,

the sleeves 2| likewise are pressed against the angle members 22' and they in turn against the undersuriace of the cover plate l5. Constructions other than the angle members can be used for the same purposes.

The frame and core 22 as before mentioned is of laminated metal construction and is in the shape substantially of a hollow rectangle (Fig. 3). The transformer of the present invention is made up of a split primary with one part thereof being wound around one long edge of the core and the other part being wound around the parallel edge thereof. While the detailed construction of the primary has not been shown herein, its arrangement is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 6

wh rein it will be seen that the primary is made up of parts so and El energized from supply lines 32 controlled by a switch 3 1. A handle 35 for the switch is shown on the top surface of the cover plate. has associated therewith a low voltage, low amperage secondary 3'! having one lead extending to a terminal post 38 and having a rheostat 39 in the other side thereof, the contact arm 40 of which is connected to a terminal post 4|. A handle 42 for actuating the contact arm 40 is mounted on the top of the cover plate 15.

The secondary associated with the part 3! of the transformer primary is shown at 45 and is of low voltage, high amperage nature. One end of this secondary is connected directly to a terminal post 46 on the top of the cover plate while a contact arm 41 can be moved across the turns of the secondary to vary the output of the secondar', such contact arm 4'! being connected to the terminal post 48 also on top of the cover plate. The contact arm 4'! has its end bent into such shape as to hold a metallic ball 56 captive, such ball serving to ride across the winding of the secondary 45 from which exposed winding One section 30 of the transformer insulation has been removed. In this manner it is possible to obtain a varied output from secondary of such character as to be suitable for the energization of cautery instruments and the like. Such a secondary may have, for example, an output with a maximum voltage of approximately four and one-half volts and a maximum amperage of approximately fifty amperes. A handle 5| mounted on the top of the cover plate I6 is utilized for manipulating the contact arm 41. Suitable indicia can be provided on the top surface of the plate in connection with the switch control 35, the secondary control 42 and the secondary control 5 l. The secondary 37 is utilized for the energization of lights customarily employed in association with the operation of cautery and diagnostic instruments, such secondary having, for example, a maximum output of approximately six volts at a maximum amperage of approximately five tenths of an ampere. The terminal posts are of a type suitable for receiving pin terminals on the ends of conductors.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that all operating parts of this transformer arrangement including all of the transformer elements, terminal posts and controls are secured to the cover plate it so that these parts can be moved as a unit. In order that the cover plate and transformer assembly can be secured in place with the cover plate resting on the shoulder or ledge l5, use is made of screws 60 passing through suitable openings in the end walls I I into threaded engagement with the apertures of the angle members 2G. The walls of the casing extending above the ledge l5 serve to protect the edges of the cover plate. Since these angle members 20 are rigidly retained in proper position, it follows that the screws 68 will serve to lock the cover plate in assembly with the casing Hi. In addition, since the angle members have studs l8 passing through openings therein, and these angle members are held relative to the end walls of the casing, it follows that either lateral or endwise shifting of the transformer assembly are substantially prevented, or at least the effect thereof upon the cover plate is materially reduced. Thus the shocks incidental to handling or shipment of the transformer construction are in effect absorbed by the angle members and the casing instead of being communicated entirely to the cover memher. In addition this arrangement serves to hold all parts of the device together, preventing rupture of the casing upon the impact of heavy shocks.

In the event the transformer elements are of considerable eight, further shocl; absorption construction can be utilized in the manner shown in Fig. 5 wherein it will be seen that the stud I8 is of sufficient length to extend substantially through an opening in the bottom M of a casing made otherwise in accordance with the foregoing description. A spring l0 surrounds the stud 58 within the casing, the extremities of the spring being against the bottom 14' in one instance and the nut 24 in the other instance. Of'course, each stud utilized in this arrangement will be similarly supplied with aspring 18 and a nut H is threaded onto the end of the stud 58 fitting in a recess in the bottom 15. The spr igs it used in this arrangement serve to absorb shocks which might be communicated from top to bottom or vice verse. of the transformer construction and thereby effectively cushion the transformer against such movement as might fracture the cover plate. In this arrangement use is still made of angle members 20 for the primary purpose of retaining the cover plate and transformer assembly within the casing 19.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a transformer construction of such simplicity that all parts can be removed as a unit from a casing for repair or replacement and at the same time the relatively heavy elements are effectively restrained against undesirable lateral movement within the casing, the term lateral being used herein as applied either to sidewise or endwise motion. It is to be understood that modifications and changes of various character can be made all within the scope of the invention, and accordingly any limitations imposed thereupon are to be only those set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A transformer construction comprising an open-top casing having an internal ledge continuous around the open top thereof, a cover plate of frangible material adapted to be seated on said ledge, studs imbedded in said cover plate and depending therefrom, spacers on said studs, a transformer, said studs p sing hro h parts o said transformer, means for securing said trans former on said studs against said spacers, angle members on said studs confined between said spacers and the bottom surface of said cover plate and secured to walls of said casing for securing said cover plate and transformer in assembly with said casing and for substantially preventing lateral shifting of said transformer in said casing.

2. A transformer construction comprising an open-top casing having an internal ledge continuous around the open top thereof, a cover plate of frangible material adapted to be seated on said ledge, studs imbedded in said cover plate and depending therefrom, spacers on said studs, angle members each having a leg through which a stud passes, said angle members being confined between said spacers and the bottom surface of said cover plate, a transformer having said studs passing therethrough, and means for securing said transformer, said spacers and said angle members on said studs against movement relative thereto, and means for securing the other legs of said angle members to walls of said casing for securing said cover plate and transformer in assembly with the casing and for substantially preventing lateral shifting of said transformer in the casing.

3. A transformer construction comprising an open-top casing, a cover plate of frangible material closing said open top of the casing, studs imbedded in said cover plate and depending therefrom, spacers on said studs, angle members each having a leg through which a stud passes, said angle members being confined between said spacers and the bottom surface of said cover plate, a transformer having said studs passing therethrough, means for securing said transformer, said spacers and said angle members on said studs against movement relative thereto, and means for securing the other legs of said angle members to walls of said Casing for securing said cover plate and transformer in assembly with the casing, and for substantially preventing lateral shifting of said transformer in the casing.

WALTER A. ARNESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,807,135 Proctor May 26, 1931 2,274,296 Hughes et al. Feb. 24, 1942 2,014,540 Thomas Sept. 17, 1935 2,138,408 Rowe Nov. 29, 1938 1,213,473 Hasse Jan. 23, 1917 1,572.214 McEwing Feb. 9, 1926 2,210,696 West Aug. 6, 1940 1,958,916 Hammerly May 15, 1934 998,617 Keating July 25, 1911 1,545,540 Wills July 14, 1925 1,761,973 Daubner June 3, 1930 1,631,955 Bergman June 14, 1927 2,245,266 Eitman et a1 June 10, 1941 2,142,366 Mitschid Jan. 3, 1939 2,057,116 Rubens Oct. 13, 1936 2,061,452 Comstock Nov. 17, 1936 

